Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover keen to leave A-League on winning note

Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover was glad to joke about his rumoured move to Wrexham, but come Friday night, there will be no time for laughs at AAMI Park.

Tom Glover hopes to leave the A-League with the 2023 title. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

Departing Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover has shared jokes about a phone call with Hollywood star and Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds rather than dwell on the serious nature of the court cases of a host of AAMI Park pitch invaders.

Glover, who was assaulted during December’s ugly Melbourne derby pitch invasion, was asked on Thursday to comment on this week’s court matters for several of the offending supporters.

Nine men were placed on good behaviour bonds without conviction and banned from attending sporting games for a year.

“I’ve put that to bed and I haven’t really paid too much attention to that,” Glover said ahead of Melbourne City’s semi-final second-leg battle against Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Friday night.

“It’s good to see that put in place, but my main focus has been playing football and working hard each day.

“I wanted to stay well clear of that and focus on my footy.”

Tom Glover is escorted from the field after being assaulted during the AAMI Park pitch invasion. Pitch: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

Glover has also had to contend with rumours he’s joining Wrexham, the Welsh club co-owned by Reynolds which has captured the imagination of a host of football fans by gaining promotion to England’s League Two competition after 15-year non-league football stint.

While Glover is definitely heading to Europe at the end of City’s finals campaign. he won’t be signing with Wrexham.

“I actually just got off the phone to Ryan Reynolds before I jumped in here,” Glover joked. “We can squash that mate, that rumour. I am actually a fan. Someone has seen that I follow them on Instagram and now its just absolutely blown up.

“I’m not going to Wrexham. I’m a big fan of them, I’ve followed them throughout … their back end of the season, saw them get promoted (but) no, (I’m) not going to Wrexham.

“People from England have messaged me and all my mates ,,, (but) definitely not true.”

But there’s no denying that Glover – who will be replaced at Melbourne City next year by former Brisbane Roar and Western United keeper Jamie Young next season – is heading overseas.

“I’ve been here four years now, so I feel like now is the right time to take that step back over to Europe,” the former Tottenham under-21 gloveman said.

“I’m not really fussed about where I end up; it’s just about what’s the next move in terms of progressing forward as a footballer and taking the next step.

“I don’t want to go to Europe for the sake of Europe. It’s got to be the right opportunity and where it’s going to put me in the best position to be playing games over there.”

Glover said he was “staying humble” and “staying grounded” as he focused on winning the championship with City before leaving the A-League.

“If we’re not on our game, we can be punished. Everyone’s ready to rock and roll,” he said.